Many of Pope County’s 33,372 registered voters will hit the polls to cast their vote during early voting next week — an event the Pope County Election Commission has spent the last two months preparing for.

Election Commissioner Portia Short said preparation, which includes media testing and all other preemptive measures to ensure the polls are ready to open without a hitch Monday, began in August, after the July runoff election.

As for the weeks leading to the Nov. 6 general election — when five seats on the Pope County Quorum Court, two constables and a board member of the Tri County Regional Water Distribution District will be decided — the Election Commission won’t just monitor early voting, but will put the final touches on the 11 other polling locations where voters will cast their vote on Election Day.

After a drastically-low voter turnout during the Sept. 18 school board election and a low turnout in the May primary, commissioners said Wednesday signs are pointing toward a heavier turnout for the general election. Some saying they’ve already turned away several eager voters trying to get the jump on early voting.

“If what we’ve been seeing the last couple of weeks is any indication, there seems to be quite a bit of interest in this election,” chairperson Carol Shoptaw said. “So I think there will be a good turnout.”

At the Election Commission meeting Wednesday, the commission appointed about 20 poll workers to work during early voting and approximately 100 on Election Day.

Election Coordinator Sherry Polsgrove advised that voters who wish to obtain an absentee ballot from a separate county — such as Arkansas Tech University students — should contact the county clerk of the county in which they’re registered to vote.

Early voting will be Oct. 22-Nov. 5 at the Pope County Election Headquarters.

It will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays during early voting and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The headquarters will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5.

Shoptaw said it’s important to vote and that it’s her opinion many have become complacent when it comes to getting to the polls.

“It’s important because you’re taking a part in your government, and who’s running your country, or state or county. You’ve had a part in it. It’s important to voice your choice,” she said.

“I think we’re becoming a society that’s becoming kind of complacent, and I feel like if we don’t speak up and we don’t have a part in the say of our government, then eventually we’re not going to have that say.”

Polsgrove added that she takes pride in her part in the electoral process.

“Our fathers, our grandfathers and our great-grandfathers have fought for our freedom so we can vote, and the number of countries who don’t have those freedoms and with the possible threats on our freedoms, I take pride in being able to vote and that my country allows me that opportunity and civic duty,” she said. “I appreciate the fact that I can have a part in my government.”

Election Day is Nov. 6, and polling locations will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Voters unsure of their designated polling location may call the Pope County Clerk’s Office at 968-6064 or the Election Headquarters at 280-1905.

Sample ballots will be posted by the end of the week at the county’s 12 polling locations. Voters can also view the ballot in Wednesday’s edition of The Courier.